Competences of the Department

Through the various bodies of the National Service - Joint Committee on State-Regions-Local Authorities, the National Commission for major risks prediction and prevention, Operational Committee of civil protection - the Department has an ongoing relationship with all the national components and the operating structures to ensure the various activities as provided for by law n. 225 of 1992.

With its technical offices - working in close collaboration with the civil protection structures of the Regions and Autonomous Provinces - and with the support of the Centres of Competence, the Department is in charge of daily prediction and prevention of natural and man-made risks. In particular, it guarantees the operation of the national early warning system through the network of Functional Centres and promotes and carries out pprogrammes and projects for risk reduction and mitigation.

The Department plays also an important role in addressing and coordinating emergency planning carried out by local institutions and in promoting and organizing civil protection drills, useful to test organizational and operational procedures.

The Central Functional Centre operates within the Department too: it is a strategic hub of the Functional Centres network - that deals with predicting, monitoring and real-time surveillance of natural phenomena - and the coordinating centre Sistema, at the Sala Situazione Italia, that monitors emergency situations throughout the national territory. Also, COAU - Joint Air Operations Centre - which coordinates the National air fleet to fight forest fires, and the COEMM - Operations Centre for Maritime Emergencies – operate at the headquarters of the Department.

Among its powers, the Department supports the civil protection voluntary work - as specifically provided for by Presidential Decree no. 194 of 2001 - training activities for the various players in the system, the promotion of initiatives for the dissemination of knowledge of civil protection and information to the public.

The Department has also the duty of coordinating the activities of first response to natural disasters, catastrophes or other events that, due to their intensity and extent, must be dealt with immediate intervention and with extraordinary powers and means. With the declaration of a state of national emergency by the Council of Ministers, it is up to the Head of the Department of Civil Protection to issue ordinances that will regulate the carrying out of the first interventions.